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Pogonomyrmex ID


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6 replies to this topic

#1 Offline 1tsm3jack - Posted November 5 2024 - 2:28 PM

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I have my one Pogonomyrmex queen that I never did get a definite ID for, so I figured I would try again, I collected her in Utah last summer right outside of Moab, right after about a day and a half of on and off rain/thunderstorms, originally I thought she was Occidentalis, and I’m still pretty sure she is but I wanted to get a definite ID, she is about 8–10 mm long.

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#2 Offline ReignofRage - Posted November 5 2024 - 4:49 PM

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It is very likely that the queen is P. occidentalis. There is the slight chance it is P. salinus, but that doesn't seem likely.


Edited by ReignofRage, November 5 2024 - 4:50 PM.

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#3 Offline 1tsm3jack - Posted November 5 2024 - 5:46 PM

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Ok thank you. What does Salinus even look like? Will I be able to tell once she has workers?

Edited by 1tsm3jack, November 5 2024 - 5:48 PM.


#4 Offline ReignofRage - Posted November 6 2024 - 12:09 AM

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You need to look at the basal tooth on the mandibles. The basal tooh is the "top" tooth when looking at the mandibles "head-on." In P. occidentalis, the tooth will be upturned and in P. salinus, it will be flat with the basal margin. This is the case for both the queen and workers.


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#5 Offline 1tsm3jack - Posted November 6 2024 - 8:45 PM

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You need to look at the basal tooth on the mandibles. The basal tooth is the "top" tooth when looking at the mandibles "head-on." In P. occidentalis, the tooth will be upturned and in P. salinus, it will be flat with the basal margin. This is the case for both the queen and workers.

To be honest I have no clue what you are talking about lol.



#6 Offline Mettcollsuss - Posted November 7 2024 - 8:06 AM

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To be honest I have no clue what you are talking about lol.

 

P. occidentalis: note the way that the last tooth on the mandible is curved upwards
casent0281116_h_1_high.jpg

 

Whereas here the last tooth is pointed sideways, same as all the other teeth (this image is not P. salinus, but salinus should have similar mandible dentition)

casent0005720_h_1_high.jpg


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#7 Offline 1tsm3jack - Posted November 7 2024 - 8:34 AM

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Ok thanks. So if I want to figure it out I need to have macro photos, I guess I'll never know haha. Care is basically the same probably right?






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